The Terran Colonial Confederation, officially the Directorial Colonial Confederation of Terra (Independent: Терран Директориал Колониал Конфедерейшн), is a regional power in human space, bordered by the Sol Central Government towards the galactic center. The capital of the Confederation is the city of Ameranth on the planet of Terra, in the Gilgamesh system.

Most of the Confederation's territory had been colonies under the early Terran Commonwealth. Over time, these colonies grew increasingly cut off from the centralized power of the Terran Commonwealth. On 31 July 2443, as part of the founding of the Sol Central Government, the Directorial Colonial Confederation of Terra declared independence.[2] The current Constitution of the Confederation was adopted at this time as well, and it remains in use today. The nation is a psephocratic confederation with a primus inter pares Premier as part of a representative directory. There are currently 12 member states, each with their own elected minister as a representative to the directory.

Due to rich mineral deposits in its core systems, and investment by early megacorporations following the initial colonization of the Gilgamesh system, the manufacturing industry has grown to dominate the Confederation's economy, and currently composes over 40% of the nation's GDP. The largest sector of this industry is currently the manufacturing of armaments.

Etymology

The term "Terran" derives from the planet of Terra;[notes 1] this planet, located in the Gilgamesh system, served as the political center of the early Gilgamesh League and as the seat of government upon the Confederation's founding in 2443. Prior to the formation of the League, the planet had been called Ameranth Major; it was renamed during the formation of the league after the Latin name for the planet of Earth, which had been the birthplace of Humanity.

For a short time after its declaration of independence in 2443, the nation had been called the Gilgamesh Colonial Confederation, which lasted until the national constitution defined its current name as the Directorial Colonial Confederation of Terra.

History

Map of the Confederation

Most of the Confederation's territory had been colonies under the early Terran Commonwealth. Over time, these colonies grew increasingly cut off from the centralized power of the Commonwealth. On 31 July 2443, during the founding of the Sol Central Government, the Confederation declared independence. The Confederation has since become a major industrial and military power in the region.

Colonization

The habitable planet of Ameranth Major was colonized in late 2331 after a small fleet of cryogenic generational colonization ships sent out in early 2280 arrived in the Gilgamesh system. Another planet in the system, Ameranth Minor was also colonized during this time, as well as Novaya Zemlya. Other uninhabitable planets in the system were found to be rich in minerals and industrial materials. Development of the system proceeded slowly. However, by 2398, when the Commonwealth made contact with the system again, it had become home to a population of nearly one million humans.

After being contacted by the Commonwealth in 2398, the colonies in Gilgamesh were re-integrated into its government. With technological and logistical support from the Commonwealth, the Gilgamesh system became a lucrative trade hub. This directly caused a significant increase in immigration to the system, leading to additional economic and societal growth. During this time, developments on the planet of Novaya Zemlya had caused it to become the industrial center of the system.

Independence

In 2406, shortly after humanity's first contact with the Skrell, the colonies of the Gilgamesh system founded the Gilgamesh League, successfully lobbying for the right to expand their territory outside the system. After expansion into neighboring systems, and significant colonization efforts, the League's systems had become almost entirely self-sufficient. In addition, these systems had begun to work towards independence, cut off by their significant distance both physically and ideologically from the central government of the Commonwealth.

On 31 July 2443, during the signing of the Sol Central Government charter, many of the League's colonies declared independence from the now defunct Commonwealth, conglomerating into the Terran Confederation. By the 26th century, the Confederation encompassed thirty-one systems, with forty-nine colonies, and a population of ten-billion.

Contemporary Period

After the founding of the Sol Central Government, and the Confederation's declaration of independence, the Confederation entered into an economic depression caused by the abrupt withdrawal of support from the SCG. This depression led to a famine, causing the Confederation to expand their borders in an attempt to annex additional agri-worlds to provide for the rest of the Confederation.

Among the planets annexed was Gaia, a world on the border of SCG space. The annexation of this planet led directly to the Gaia Conflict in 2545.[3] The conflict between the SCG and the Confederation aided significantly in the consolidation of the Confederation's economy as well as their overpopulation issues. The conflict ended in a pyrrhic victory for the SCG in 2550. During this time, the Confederation had begun significant economic reforms, which had been put in place by the end of the conflict.

Government

The Confederation is a directorial psephocratic confederation. The Constitution of the Confederation sets the framework for the government of the nation. The Constitution is unable to be amended except by unanimous vote of the directory, and cannot be revised during any national emergency or a time of war. Amendments to the Constitution affecting the sovereignty of member-states, unity, or independence can only be made after the proposal is supported unanimously by the directorial representatives. Furthermore, no revision can be made to limit the fundamental rights of humans enumerated in the Constitution. This does not apply to non-humans.

The nation's central legislative body is the Confederational Directory, whose members are elected by popular vote on party lists every four years. Each member-state of the Confederation may elect their own representative. The head of state is the Premier of the Confederation, who is elected every 8 years from the Confederational Directory, requiring a majority vote by the other ministers. The Premier additionally functions as the head of government and assembles a cabinet, which is subject to directorial approval, as are the majority of official actions which may be taken by the Premier.

Foreign Relations

After achieving independence from the Terran Commonwealth, the Confederation's foreign policy was designed with a view to establishing relations and integrating independent colonies, and isolation from non-human powers. Immigration is strictly controlled, with minimal allowances for the entry of non-humans and citizens of the Sol Central Government, but with fewer restrictions on citizens of independent human colonies or the Positronic Union.

The Positronic Union is currently the only non-human state to be officially recognized by the Confederation's government, and Positronics are able to earn full citizenship in the Confederation by serving for two years in either the Ground Forces or the Navy.

Military

The Confederation's military is divided into the Ground Forces and Navy. In 2558, the military had 276.295 million personnel on active duty. It is mandatory for all male citizens aged 18–24 to be drafted for two years of service in the Armed Forces.

The Confederation has the largest stockpile of cobalt-nuclear weapons in the region. It has the largest fleet of stealth-equipped ballistic missile ships and is the only human government apart from the Sol Central Government with a substantial cobalt-nuclear arsenal. The Confederation's navy is the largest among human powers in the region, and its ground forces are the second largest.

The nation has a large and entirely indigenous arms industry, producing the majority of its own military equipment with only a select few types of weapons imported. The Confederation is the region's top supplier of armaments, accounting for roughly 60% of regional weapons sales and exporting weapons to numerous independent states or colonies. In recent years, the Confederation has been known to supply weaponry to a number of independent states, including rebellious elements on Avalon. As of 2560, the Confederation's military budget is higher than any other human state.

Economy

In 2560, the Confederation had a GDP (PPP) of roughly 927.776 trillion Thaler and a GDP per capita (PPP) of 25,471 Thaler. The Confederation is an upper-middle income economy. During its early years, the nation experienced roughly a century of economic instability and decline, led in part by a lack of support from the newly formed Sol Central Government and a lack of structural reform. From 2450 onward, however, the Confederation's economy was transformed into one of relative macroeconomic stability, characterized by high growth, low unemployment, and declining inflation. Shortly after the Gaia Conflict, the economic stability of the Confederation increased drastically. Unemployment in the Confederation is at 9.7% according to 2558 census data.

Industrial output growth reached 10.3% year-on-year in February 2560. The largest local companies include arms manufacturer HelTek, Gazpran Oil and Gas, Grayson Terra, Sinnesloschen Electronics, TDE & TIE, and the Novaya Zemlya Shipyards. Exports have increased substantially over the past few years, with an 18.7% annual rise in exports in 2558. The Confederation's main exports are military equipment, electrical and electronic equipment, industrial machinery, metallurgic products, agricultural products, and raw materials. Trade is mostly centered on independent colonies and smaller nations. However, trade agreements have been previously established with the Positronic Union.

Since 2498 the official currency has been the Confederate credit ("cred") and following a denomination in 2552, it has been valued at 1.7-1.9 Thaler.

Demographics

As per 2558 census data, there has been a 12.1% population increase from the figure recorded at the 2548 census. The urbanization rate is 48% of the total population living in urban areas (as of 2558).

Cultural and ethnic composition

The term "Terran" had initially described the inhabitants of the planet of Terra. In 2443, the Confederation's constitution was put into effect, naming the nation as the Directorial Colonial Confederation of Terra. Thus, many among the group of Independent-speaking colonies clung to a "Terran" identity. With the prevailing identity among the member states being defined as "Terran," new colonies integrated into the Confederation were more likely to identify as Terrans than were immigrants.

According to the latest Confederation Census (2558) (excluding minor colonies or those integrated since 2558):

Identification

Population

Terrans

76.3%

Martians

6.1%

Spacers

4.6%

Selenians

1.7%

Vat-Grown

0.9%

Other Humans

9.6%

Tajara

0.3%

Other Nonhumans

0.5%

Languages

The official language of the Confederation is Independent, an Indo-European language descended directly from English and Russian. The 2443 Declaration of Independence stated that the national language of the Directorial Colonial Confederation of Terra was Independent, and its writing is based on a modernized Cyrillic alphabet. At the 2558 census, 69.8% of the human population named Independent whereas 26.4% named Sol Common as their first language in daily use.

Religion

For the 2558 census, Orthodox Christians were found to make up 57.1% of the Confederation's human population. 26.1% of the population is Anglican, 6.8% of the population make up other Christian denominations, 0.7% belongs to other religions, 2.3% are non-religious, 4.7% is atheist, and 2.3% did not answer the religion question at the census.

Culture

The Confederation's cultural tradition has been influenced primarily by the Slavic origins of its majority population, as well as Anglo-Saxon cultures, the roots of which go back to its original colonization, which consisted primarily of the two ethnic groups. The Confederation has enriched its own culture by adopting and maintaining primarily Orthodox traditions,[4] with minor influences from a number of disparate ethnic groups. The largest ethnic group, which had come to identify itself widely as "Terran" by the late 25th century, is a speaker of Independent and played a significant role in the shaping of contemporary Slavic culture, which still maintains a major role. The culture has been further influenced by English and Scottish culture, and the cultures of integrated colonies. A strong Slavic influence in Terran literature and arts was prevalent in the late 25th and early 26th centuries.

Holidays

Most retail businesses close on Independence Day and New Year's Day as well as Christmas, which are officially recognized as public holidays, but remain open on all other holidays. Christmas is celebrated either on 7 January, the traditional old-calendar date in Terran Orthodox Churches or on 25 December, the former of which is officially recognized as a public holiday.

Sports

Thunderdome is the national sport in the Confederation. It is also both the most popular team sport in the nation, as well as the most popular sport overall. Additionally, the Confederation is the only major regional power in which the sport is still legalized. Broadcasts of the sport are extremely popular internationally as well as domestically. The Galactic Organization of Zero-G Racing also has a significant presence in the Confederation. However, their primary racing league has barred IPCs and other non-humans from participating as contestants.

Notes

↑Note: Not to be confused with the planet of Earth, which is located in the Sol system